Champaign County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.6 | 205,644 people · 30th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Champaign County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.6 — 1921st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Illinois, it ranks 30th of 102 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Champaign County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 87.0 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 87.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 93
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 97
Structural Poverty 41.1
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 65
Child Poverty Rate 32
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 8
Economic Vitality 32.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 13
Rent-to-Income Ratio 56
Business Formation Rate 56
House Price Change (YoY) 17
Legal Distress 30.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 31
Consumer Credit Distress 30.2
Debt in Collections 32
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 28
Uninsured Rate 18
Subprime Credit Population 40

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Champaign County
Champaign County, IL 44.6 Normal —
Vermilion County, IL 58.1 Elevated +13.5
Edgar County, IL 40.7 Normal -3.9
McLean County, IL 36.9 Normal -7.7
Ford County, IL 32.1 Healthy -12.5
Douglas County, IL 28.8 Healthy -15.8
Piatt County, IL 26.3 Healthy -18.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Champaign County
Bay County, MI 44.7 Normal +0.1
Hancock County, OH 44.7 Normal +0.1
Cascade County, MT 44.7 Normal +0.1
Lincoln County, NC 44.7 Normal +0.1
Hendricks County, IN 44.5 Normal -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Champaign County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Champaign County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Champaign County.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
Champaign
217-819-5113
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPost-Purchase

See all counselors in Illinois →

Find an Attorney

Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-922-8757

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Champaign County residents at no cost.

Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)
Legal Aid Chicago (formerly LAF) 312-341-1070
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid 217-525-7151
Prairie State Legal Services 1-800-531-7057
Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 1-800-922-8757

Self-Help Resources

Illinois Legal Aid Online — Foreclosure Comprehensive self-help guides for Illinois foreclosure
IHDA Homeowner Resources Assistance programs and housing counselor referrals

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Illinois →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Champaign County, Illinois?

    Champaign County has a County Distress Index score of 44.6 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,921st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 30th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Champaign County?

    The primary driver of distress in Champaign County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 87.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Champaign County compare to neighboring counties?

    Champaign County (44.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Vermilion County, IL (58.1); Edgar County, IL (40.7); McLean County, IL (36.9).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Champaign County's score of 44.6 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Champaign County's CDI score?

    Champaign County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Champaign County?

    Champaign County, Illinois has a population of approximately 205,644 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.